Hospital bed

Abstract

A hospital bed includes a frame, a head board, a foot board and an apparatus for lifting and lowering the head board and the foot board. The apparatus includes a first motor unit, a shaft unit, a gear box and a second motor unit. The first motor unit is provided beneath the frame. The shaft unit is connected to both of the head board and the foot board. The gear box is provided on a side of the first motor unit and connected to the shaft unit for lifting and lowering the head board and the foot board. The second motor unit includes a motor and a pair of wires. The motor is provided with a mandrel. The mandrel is engaged with the gear box. The second motor unit is electrically connected to the first motor unit through the pair of wires for automatically lifting and lowering the head board and the foot board.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hospital bed comprising:
 a frame, a torso-supporting unit pivotally connected to the frame, a leg-supporting unit pivotally connected to the frame, a head board, a foot board and an apparatus for lifting and lowering the head board and the foot board, wherein the apparatus includes: 
 a first motor unit provided beneath the frame for driving the torso-supporting unit and the leg-supporting unit so as to rotate and tilt through a linkage, and the first motor unit being connected to the torso-supporting unit and the leg-supporting unit through the linkage and being electrically connected to a remote controller so that the remote controller is operable to actuate the first motor unit to pivot up and down the torso-supporting unit and the leg-supporting unit through the linkage; 
 a shaft unit including a first shaft connected to the head board and a second shaft connected to the foot board; 
 a gear box provided on a side of the first motor unit and connected to the shaft unit for lifting and lowering the head board and the foot board, and the gear box including a first axle and a second axle; 
 a second motor unit provided on a side of the gear box, wherein the second motor unit includes: 
 a motor provided with a mandrel engaged with the gear box; and 
 a pair of wires for electrically connecting the motor of the second motor unit to the first motor unit, wherein the second motor unit lifts and lowers the head board and the foot board through the gear box and the shaft unit; 
 wherein the head board and the foot board are lifted and lowered synchronously when the first shaft and the second shaft are connected to the first axle; 
 wherein the foot board is lowered when first shaft is connected to the second axle, the second shaft is connected to the first axle, and the head board is lifted; 
 wherein the foot board is lifted when first shaft is connected to the second axle, the second shaft is connected to the first axle, and the head board is lowered. 
 
     
     
       2. The hospital bed according to  claim 1 , wherein the first motor unit includes a pair of sockets, wherein the motor of the second motor unit is provided with a pair of leads, wherein each of the wires of the second motor unit includes a first end inserted in a related one of the sockets of the first motor unit and a second end connected to a related one of the leads of the motor of the second motor unit. 
     
     
       3. The hospital bed according to  claim 2 , wherein the second end of each of the wires is connected to the lead of the motor of the second motor unit in a plug-and-socket manner. 
     
     
       4. The hospital bed according to  claim 1 , wherein the gear box also includes:
 a shell through which the first axle and the second axle are inserted; 
 a first gear provided on the first axle; 
 a second gear provided on the second axle; and 
 a cover for protectively covering the first and second gears and sections of the first and second axles in the shell. 
 
     
     
       5. The hospital bed according to  claim 1 , wherein the first axle of the gear box is a circular rod. 
     
     
       6. The hospital bed according to  claim 1 , wherein the first axle of the gear box is a hexagonal rod.